Monthly Archives: June 2019

On Stage

Kronborg Kicks Off the Show

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The Curtain Lifts On The 2019 Charlottetown Festival

Confederation Centre of the Arts’ summer festival launches with Kronborg, Anne™, TD Young Company, and more!

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It’s all systems go at Confederation Centre of the Arts as the staff, cast, orchestra, and crew prepare to launch their 55th theatre season of The Charlottetown Festival, sponsored by CIBC.

Kronborg—The Hamlet Rock Musical :  Opening Friday June 28 in the Homburg Theatre and playing until July 20 is the much anticipated Kronborg—The Hamlet Rock Musical, sponsored by SYSCO Food Services. “This is a ghost story, a story of family, power, revenge, and sacrifice,” remarks Adam Brazier, artistic director.

This electrifying staging of Shakespeare’s famous Hamlet was a breakthrough for Confederation Centre when it first premiered here in 1974, later becoming the first Canadian musical to ever play on Broadway. Originally written and conceived by Cliff Jones, the 2019 production promises to entrance a whole new generation of theatre-lovers. This epic rock’n’roll-powered production is directed by Mary Francis Moore with music direction from Craig Fair.

“This new staging has been fully re-orchestrated and re-arranged musically by Craig Fair—new life breathed into a Canadian classic,” offers Moore. “The inspiration for these changes all come from the beautiful lyrics and melodies Cliff wrote 45 years ago.”

See the full creative team in addendum andread full casting online.

The TD Confederation Centre Young Company : The TD Young Company returns this weekend, kicking off their 2019 season on Saturday June 29 at 12 noon in the Centre’s outdoor amphitheatre. Made up of returning members and new faces, the 2019 Young Company hail from all corners of Canada and collectively speak no less than eight languages.

This summer, the troupe presents Aqsarniit, (or, “the Northern Lights” in Inuktitut), Monday to Saturday at 12 noon from until August 17. This provocative and thoughtful musical weaves music and dance through stories of our collective histories from across Turtle Island.

PEI Professional Theatre Network

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PEI Theatre is the Guild, Harbourfront Theatre,
Confederation Centre for the Arts,
Watermark Theatre, and the Victoria Playhouse
Music

All In to Abegweit

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SHOW DATES at the Harbourfront Theatre

JULY 9, 10, 23 & 24 – 7:30 PM

AUGUST 13, 14, 27, & 28 – 7:30 PM

 

SEARCHING FOR ABEGWEIT: The Island Songs & Stories of Lennie Gallant returns to Harbourfront Theatre for 8 performances this summer 2019.

Hailed as a runaway theatrical hit with a solid track record of over 120 full house performances, SEARCHING FOR ABEGWEIT is a musical love letter to Prince Edward Island that stars the artist himself and presents his original folk, roots and rock music, alongside comedic stories, Island legends, and poignant tales in a multimedia format that utilizes film, and hundreds of paintings from well-known PEI visual artist and sibling, Karen Gallant. Sharing the stage with Gallant are nephews Jonathan Gallant on vocals and percussion and Jeremy on piano, along with fiddler Sean Kemp, and popular Acadian singer and multi-instrumentalist Patricia Richard.

SEARCHING FOR ABEGWEIT: The Island Songs & Stories of Lennie Gallant features original music from the span of Lennie Gallant’s extensive career, along with a number of new compositions written specifically for the show.

Gallant last performed his hit production at Harbourfront Theatre in the summer of 2017, before taking it on the road and touring it throughout the Maritime provinces in the fall 2017.

ABOUT LENNIE GALLANT:

Recognized by his peers as one of Canada’s best performing songwriters, Lennie Gallant has released twelve albums (10 in English and 2 in French) of original songs which have won him a host of awards and nominations from the JUNOs, Les Prix Eloizes, as well as 18 East Coast Music Awards, including 2017 ECMA Entertainer of the Year.

His double CD of the 22 songs from his multimedia hit production, Searching for Abegweit, won him an ECMA. He was named Canadian Folk Artist of The Year and his song “Peter’s Dream” was voted one of the Top Ten East Coast Songs of All time.

A recipient of the Order of Canada, Lennie is an international touring artist, who has performed all over the continent, in Europe, for the troops in Afghanistan, and at the Winter Olympics. One of his albums, When We Get There, even went up to the International Space Station with Canadian Astronaut Julie Payette (now the Governor General) for the crew to enjoy and orbited the planet 248 times.

Fresh on the heels of his 2017 ECMA wins, Gallant buried himself in the studio to record his new album Time Travel. The new songs have been garnering significant airplay and stellar reviews. The album was recently named one of the Top Ten Folk Albums of the Year (alongside albums by Richard Thompson, John Prine and Joan Baez) by a panel of Canadian music industry professionals. Lennie is nominated for two 2019 ECMA’s including entertainer of the year.

Lennie Gallant has been involved in numerous charity events, and he has received the PEI Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year Award for his work and support of many worthwhile causes.

PEI Professional Theatre Network

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PEI Theatre is the Guild, Harbourfront Theatre,
Confederation Centre for the Arts,
Watermark Theatre, and the Victoria Playhouse
Reviews

Far-flung at the Guild

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“A Pilgrim’s Passage: Images of the Himalayas & Beyond”
Recent artwork by Haley Lewis will be on display at
The Guild in Charlottetown, June 26 – July 7, 2019

 

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Living and working in China for many years has afforded Haley Lewis the unique opportunity to not only travel throughout that vast country, but also to many neighboring countries. A Pilgrim’s Passage is what she describes as a small glimpse into some of those places through a series of new paintings.
Of all the Asian countries Haley explored, she was especially drawn to Mongolia, Burma, Nepal and northern India.
“Although things are slowly changing, what I found there are cultures so remote that the people have been able to maintain their traditional religious and cultural practices, for the most part unhindered by the influences of the west.”
Since Buddhism is a practice so interwoven into the daily lives of the people in these isolated locales, Haley’s work naturally began to flow in this direction too.
“There is a reverence that overcomes you in these ancient 1000 year old monasteries; places steeped in ritual and mysticism, which are often in high altitudes amid dramatic landscapes. It is not hard to feel inspired by the silence, mystery and sheer beauty that surrounds you in a place like Ladakh.”
Her recent body of work consists predominantly of acrylic paintings some of which are very colorful while others take on the more subdued tones which she feels reflect the isolation and majesty of the places she experienced.
Haley says that she hopes to return to Tibet and northern India again one day and that it will likely continue to influence her art for many years to come.
“Sifting through the thousands of photos taken over the years and working on these paintings has been difficult but also pleasurable. It has been a chance to revisit and attempt to translate some of those experiences.”
For a small glimpse into some of the far-flung places that Haley has visited, all are welcome to view her recent works at her upcoming solo exhibition at The Guild from June 25 – July 7.

 

PEI Professional Theatre Network

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PEI Theatre is the Guild, Harbourfront Theatre,
Confederation Centre for the Arts,
Watermark Theatre, and the Victoria Playhouse

On Stage

‘Where You Are’ is at the Victoria Theatre

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Where You Are, the latest play by Canadian rising star, Kristen Da Silva, is a heart-warming and hilarious tale of recognizing love wherever we find it and how we choose our paths in life.

Sisters Glenda and Suzanne live a peaceful retirement selling homemade jam on Manitoulin Island. This summer, their usual concerns – trying to orchestrate sightings of their handsome veterinarian neighbour and preparing for the visit of Suzanne’s grown daughter, Beth, are complicated by a secret the sisters can no longer contain. When Beth arrives with secrets of her own, the three women find they have no choice but to face things that will change their lives and relationships forever.

Click HERE for Tickets.

PEI Professional Theatre Network

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PEI Theatre is the Guild, Harbourfront Theatre,
Confederation Centre for the Arts,
Watermark Theatre, and the Victoria Playhouse
Profiles

Chat With an Actor

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A Chat With Actor Alexandra Montagnese

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Q: Tell me about the characters you’re playing this summer?

AM: I am playing Gabriella in Boeing Boeing the passionate, feisty yet forgiving, Italian flight attendant. She speaks a language of love through her actions and soon becomes protective when she starts to catch wind of the situation at hand. All Gabriella wants is calm sensual companionship in an otherwise turbulent lifestyle, hopping airport to airport without much time to lay roots.

In contrast, I play the social butterfly, Chick in Crimes of the Heart letting me dig in the deep rootedness of southern American family matters. I’m playing the cousin to the three sisters at the centre of the story. Every time we see Chick, she is coming from a meeting, or headed to another responsibility, always with an eye for scrutiny and decorum. She is sharp, ready to pounce, and will certainly fill any dead air with her extensively long sentences. She’s got this fast-talking, friendly manner of getting what she wants while tossing jabs here and there, if you catch them.

Q: Have you worked with any of the other company members?

AM: I was lucky enough to spend 2 years at York U with Hannah where we did our MFA together. And when I say together, I mean there were only 5 of us in the acting program, and we spent day and night, every single class, and rehearsals together. We even got to play sisters in Three Sisters as both of our thesis roles.

Q: Are you looking forward to spending the whole summer on the Island?

AM: This is my first time on PEI and I am just delighted to start the summer full of seafood and sandy beaches! I’ve made extensive lists of all the things I want to do while on the island but I am most excited to go on adventures and see things I’ve never seen before. I’ll be the one asking people where I should go on my days off. 

Q: How will you keep it fresh every night when you have such a long run?

AM: The wonderful thing about theatre is that it’s humans every night, and as long as I remain true and honest with where I’m at, it will be fresh and interesting and new. I really value the work my fellow actors do, and out of respect to them, I listen, and respond authentically to what they’re offering. To me, honouring the work stage management, direction, lights, sound, front of house, and all the folks working to put me there onstage keeps me motivated. I also like to dedicate each night to a new person in the audience, whether I know them or not.

Robert Tsonos Artistic Director

Watermark Theatre

 

PEI Professional Theatre Network

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PEI Theatre is the Guild, Harbourfront Theatre,
Confederation Centre for the Arts,
Watermark Theatre, and the Victoria Playhouse
News Flash

Behind the Scenes

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Harbourfront Theatre Tours – By Donation

Tuesdays & Thursdays at 11 AM – June through August

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This summer on Tuesday & Thursday mornings, we invite you to go behind the scenes with us on a theatre tour.

“We’re excited to welcome the public to explore the theatre with us again this summer,” says Kieran Keller, Harbourfront Theatre’s executive director. “For those who want to learn more about how a theatre works, going behind the scenes can be a really fun experience.”

After 22 years of presenting and producing many different performances, the theatre has a lot of stories to share. The guided theatre tours allow anyone to come in and hear the stories, learn about the technical side of the performing arts, and learn some of the history of Harbourfront Theatre and theatre in general.

Tours run every Tuesday & Thursday at 11 AM during the months of June, July, & August. Tours begin at the theatre’s Box Office and can run 30-45 minutes.

Larger groups are encouraged to call ahead to register by calling the administration office (902-432-3046). Accessible tours are available, and tours can be modified to accommodate all ages. Admission is by donation. For more information, contact Box Office at 902-888-2500.

Before or after your tour, we encourage you to visit our neighbours at Eptek Art & Culture Centre.

Eptek Art & Culture Centre:
Located next door to the theatre. Drop in Tuesdays to Fridays (9:00-4:00) or Sundays (12:00 to 4:00) . Eptek offers regional and Prince Edward Island exhibits year round. Showcases include themes ranging from history to art with exhibits changing regularly. Admission is by donation.

PEI Professional Theatre Network

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PEI Theatre is the Guild, Harbourfront Theatre,
Confederation Centre for the Arts,
Watermark Theatre, and the Victoria Playhouse
On Stage

Mamma Mia is Back!

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A mother, a daughter, three possible dads; and a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget! Back to the Festival by popular demand, it’s Mamma Mia!

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This sunny ABBA-driven tale follows Donna, an independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on a Greek island. She is about to let go of Sophie, the spirited daughter she has raised alone. For Sophie’s wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best friends – practical and no-nonsense Rosie, and wealthy, multi-divorcée Tanya – from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos; however, after reading her mother’s diary, Sophie secretly invites three guests of her own. On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna’s past to the Greek paradise they last visited two decades ago. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities!

Presented as a co-production with the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario.

Sensitivity Warning: Strobe lighting, haze and fog effects are used in this production

ARTISTIC TEAM
Director, Adam Brazier; Music Director, Craig Fair; Choreographer, Lisa Stevens; Associate Music Director, David Theriault; Costume & Scenic Designer, Cory Sincennes; Lighting Designer, Michael Walton; Sound Designer, Peter McBoyle; Production Stage Manager, Matt MacInnis.

MUSIC & LYRICS BY Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, and some songs with Stig Anderson; BOOK BY Catherine Johnson; Mamma Mia! was originally produced in London by Judy Craymer, Richard East, and Bjorn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal; Additional materials and arrangements Martin Koch; Music published by Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI Grove Park Music Inc., EMI Waterford Music.

Mamma Mia! is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com.

PEI Professional Theatre Network

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PEI Theatre is the Guild, Harbourfront Theatre,
Confederation Centre for the Arts,
Watermark Theatre, and the Victoria Playhouse
Profiles

Off the Stage

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A Chat With Actor Hannah Wayne-Phillips at the Watermark Theatre

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Q: How will you keep it fresh every night when you have such a long run?
HWP: The incredible thing about live theatre is, every night is different because every night we get a new scene partner- the audience. One of the wonderful things about working in an intimate space like Watermark is that as actors we can really be present with the audience and have an exchange with the audience. That relationship, or that exchange, is very different with different groups of people and that alone keeps the work fresh. Sometimes I also like to focus on one detail and see how it changes the action. So I might focus on how a certain memory from childhood, or a relationship with a character in the play, affects the character’s journey in the play.
Q: Are you looking forward to spending the whole summer on the island?
HWP: I am thrilled to be spending the summer on the island. I’m excited for many things about being in PEI this summer, but top of the list is getting to swim in the Atlantic Ocean everyday.
Q: Tell me about the characters you are playing this summer?
HWP: I am very excited about the two characters I will be playing this summer! In Boeing Boeing I’m playing Berthe, a Parisian maid, who already has me busting a gut at her bold and slightly cantankerous way of communicating with her boss. Amidst her boss’ chaotic lifestyle, Berthe applies her shrewd and exacting mind to holding the house together, and with great success (most of the time). Berthe runs a tight ship; she has a ubiquitous watch over her domain. I cannot wait to jump into the skin of this fiery, smart-as-a-whip, subversive, fretful, wonderfully dramatic Parisian.
I’m also playing Lenny in Crimes of the Heart. Lenny and her sisters have already captured my heart and imagination. Lenny is the sister who is the caregiver; she is reliable, and self-sacrificing. She’s very interesting to me, because at face value she appears meek, but just below the surface she has a depth of soul and an emotional life that is very intense and at times quite dark. When we meet Lenny at the beginning of the play her life is very hermitic. Yet, she yearns for a life that’s bigger, with more passion than she believes she is able to have. That internal tension and Lenny’s journey to becoming an active person is extraordinary to me. I am very excited to fall further in love with this wish-making, horse-riding, yearning, cautious, sensitive, intense, empathetic misfit.
Q: Have you worked with any of the other company members?
HWP: Yes! Alex Montagnese and I were in the same class for our MFA in Acting at York. We always hoped we would be able to share the stage again soon, and I’m thrilled that the opportunity has come again so quickly. Alex is a truly gifted artist and I can’t wait to jump into the ring with her and the entire cast this summer.

Robert Tsonos

Artistic Director
Watermark Theatre

 

PEI Professional Theatre Network

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PEI Theatre is the Guild, Harbourfront Theatre,
Confederation Centre for the Arts,
Watermark Theatre, and the Victoria Playhouse
News Flash

Trading Card Time!

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CCAG: It’s Time Again For The 13th annual Artist Trading Cards Event!

Art Gallery makes call for Artist Trading Cards registrations

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The Confederation Centre Art Gallery (CCAG) is looking for artists of all ages and disciplines, professional and non-professional, to register for its 13th annual Artist Trading Cards event. Artist trading cards (ATC’s) are miniature works of art that can be created with any material imaginable. Cards can be made from paper, wool, wood, clay, and more. 

This year’s registration deadline is Wednesday, July 3. A week after registration, participants will be contacted to confirm the number of cards they are required to create for the event. If 50 people sign up for the program, participants will be requested to create 50 cards. Cards can be produced in editions (a limited number of the same card), series (a set of cards with a unifying theme), or as singular originals.

The main requirement is the size: cards MUST be the same size as modern baseball cards or 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches (6 cm x 9 cm), small enough to fit inside standard card-collector pockets, sleeves or sheets. ATCs must be self-produced. The artist’s name and contact information, as well as the card title and the edition or series number is to be written on the back. 

The 13th annual trading event will be held on Thursday, August 8 at 7 p.m. at the CCAG. Along with the card trading, there will be music and a cash bar. Details on the evening’s program will be announced at a later date.

For more information or to register, please contact Monique Lafontaine by email atmoniquel@confederationcentre.com. 

PEI Professional Theatre Network

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PEI Theatre is the Guild, Harbourfront Theatre,
Confederation Centre for the Arts,
Watermark Theatre, and the Victoria Playhouse
Music

Watermark Music Series Fires Up

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Classic Music Reignited 2019 Lineup

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Returning for its 6th season, Classic Music Reignited will once again be curated by Rob Oakie and have PEI artists presenting their interpretations of classic artists from the modern era.

The season kicks off July 21st with Queens of Country featuring the music of iconic female country artists Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn. Their timeless classics will be interpreted by PEI songstress Teresa Doyle, Kim Albert & Faces and special guest Luis Anselmi on cuatro and keys.

Next up: August 4th is British 70’s Art Rock featuring the exciting and ground breaking music of The Moody Blues, Supertramp and Pink Floyd. This show presents two rising stars in PEI’s music scene, Calm Baretta and Jenni & the Hummingbird with special guest Claire Gallant on keys.

August 11th is a special children’s matinee that will feature readings from famed author Robert Munsch by PEI comedian and actor Dennis Trainor. The show will also feature a special presentation of fiddle and dance duo to teach the children how to step dance!

The final show of the series goes August 18th. Songs of Social Justice and Protestwill be a selection of songs about yesterday and today’s social issues, and a protest anthem or two, featuring a broad range of artists from Woody Guthrie to Crosby, Stills and Nash. The songs will be interpreted by Tara MacLean, Nick Gauthier & Tian Wigmore and Rob Oakie.

All performances are at 7:30PM except the one on August 11th which will be at 1:00PM.
All performances are $25 for adults, $15 for children and students.
Tickets can be purchased at ticketwizard.ca

Watermark is a proud member of the PTN – Professional Theatre Network of PEI

For more information please contact Andrea Surich at 902-963-3963 or generalmanager@watermarktheatre.com.

PEI Professional Theatre Network

28660348_162333201093170_735205771249634989_n

PEI Theatre is the Guild, Harbourfront Theatre,
Confederation Centre for the Arts,
Watermark Theatre, and the Victoria Playhouse